Psycho Linguistics

Name: OLADIPO ENIOLA ESTHER
Matric Number: 190321220
ENG 402 (PSYCHOLINGUISTICS)
ASSIGNMENT
Write on the following;
1. The human brain and language
2. Specialization of the hemisphere
3. Which parts of the brain deals with speech comprehension and speech production?
4. What is bi-lateralization?
1. the human brain is divided into two hemispheres. The left hemisphere is the “logical
brain” and is involved in language and analysis and the right hemisphere is the “creative brain”,
involved in daydreaming and imagination daydreaming and imagination. The left
hemisphere controls the right side of the body while the right hemisphere controls the left
side. The human brain and language are connected. Language processing involves
various regions, such as Broca’s area for production and Wernicke’s area for
comprehension. Neuroplasticity enables the brain to adapt to new languages, highlighting
its remarkable ability to process and generate diverse linguistic expressions. Furthermore,
Physicians noted that brain-injured patients with damage to the left hemisphere would
lose power of speech and language abilities, while those with injuries to the right hemisphere
did not lose this ability. Research has also shown that in around 97% of people, language is
represented in the left hemisphere. However, in about 19% of left-handed people, the areas
responsible for language are in the right hemisphere and as many as 68% of them have some
language abilities in both the left and the right hemispheres.
Neural networks are established over time as an individual learns and experiences things.
Language and speech skills are therefore acquired after birth. The human genome codes
for the speech ability that will evolve as the brain is trained. The visual cortex is the part
of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for processing visual information while the
auditory cortex in the cerebral cortex processes auditory information and as part of the
sensory system for hearing, perform both basic and higher hearing functions.
2. Hemispheric specialization refers to the differential role of the left or right brain side in
processing a specific neuronal task or behavior. (Manns:2019) Each half of the brain
processes information from one environmental half field and controls one body side. In
several cases, however, one hemisphere dominates a specific function. Also known as
cerebral lateralization, it refers to the idea that both hemispheres of the brain have
specialized functions. In most right-handed individual and a significant portion of left-
handed individuals, language functions are primarily localized in the left hemisphere.
This specialization is often observed in the left hemisphere’s Broca’s area, responsible for
language production, and Wernicke’s area, involved in language comprehension.
Speech, song, and writing are all examples of left hemisphere functions. That means that
there are cerebral areas in the left hemisphere that control speech. For example, Broca’s
area in the left temporal lobe is responsible for the motor control of speech. Similarly,
there are areas that control singing and writing. A person who stutters when speaking but sings
fluently has a problem with the motor control of speech, but no problem with the motor
control of song. That shows that speech and song are controlled by different areas.
The right hemisphere is controlled by the left hemisphere, and the right is responsible for
such things as the perception of rhythm, spatial-relation skills and abstract or intuitive
thought. The right hemisphere is less controlled by logic than the left is. There are
however some people who show opposite pattern to what has been described. Those people
have their language functions on the right hemisphere and their left hemisphere is in charge of
rhythm, spatial relation skills, and abstract or intuitive thought.
3. Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area are two crucial regions in the brain associated with
language processing;
 Broca’s Area: The Broca’s area is typically located in the left frontal lobe,
specifically in the posterior part of the frontal gyrus. The area is named after
Pierre Paul Broca who noticed an impaired ability to produce speech in two patients
who had sustained injury to the region. It is primarily responsible for language
production and speech motor control. It plays a key role in the generation of
grammatically correct sentences and the coordination of the muscles involved in
speech.
 Wernicke’s Area: The Wernicke’s area is situated in the temporal lobe, typically
in the posterior part of the temporal gyrus. Wernicke’s area is related to speech and
is involved in both spoken and written language. This area was named after Carl
Wernicke, a German neurologist who discovered that the area is related to how
words and syllables are pronounced. It is mainly involved in language
comprehension. Wernicke’s area helps in understanding and processing the
meaning of words and constructing coherent and meaningful sentences. Damage
to this area can lead to fluent but nonsensical speech.
These areas are interconnected by a bundle of nerve fibres known as the arcuate
fasciculus. The communication between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area is crucial for fluid
language function. When there is disruption in these regions, it can result in language
disorders. For instance, damage to Broca’s aphasia, characterized by difficulty in forming
grammatically correct sentences. Damage to Wernicke’s area may result in Wernicke’s
area may result in Wernicke’s aphasia, marked by fluent but often nonsensical speech.
4. Lateralization is the relegation of cognitive processes to different regions in the brain.

Language is generally lateralized to the left hemisphere, though there are also language-
related processes in the right hemisphere as well. Lateralization is a theory that states that
functions in the brain are lateralized, meaning they are split up between different regions
in each hemisphere of the brain. It helps researchers understand which part of the brain
are more or less responsible for what actions and thought processes.
In this light, bi-lateralization refers to the distribution or involvement of both sides

(hemispheres) of the brain in a particular function or process. In the context of language,
bi-lateralization can occur when both the left and right hemispheres contribute to
language- related tasks. While language processing is typically associated with the left
hemisphere, some aspects of language, especially in terms of processing prosody and
emotional content, involve the right hemisphere

Psycho Linguistics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Psycho Linguistics

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Psycho Linguistics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Name: OLADIPO ENIOLA ESTHER

Matric Number: 190321220

ENG 402 (PSYCHOLINGUISTICS)

Write on the following;

1. The human brain and language

2. Specialization of the hemisphere

4. Lateralization is the relegation of cognitive processes to different regions in the brain.

In this light, bi-lateralization refers to the distribution or involvement of both sides

You might also like